The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-11
sLEs PET7Ts arENAGES1
The Heme % Fortune's Aged victims Pro-
ytded by Pnrisian Charity.

bridled luxury and reckless extravaganza Of
| artstocracy and plutocracy. from tho sump-
tuous town mansions, the palatial country
| houses, tho superbly appointed manors and
oastles, medi@vsl In their constructions, mod!
ern In their latest devices Of comfort and ele-
sance; from the boundlcss estates where tho
men Of wealth and leisure spend their lives In
ease and pleasure, with no further prooccupa-
| tion thnn to enhance the charm Of the passing
hour and to run their course, cheating the
| dread 1ends OF ennui andAsatiety. we stumble
occasionally upon the retreat granted to the
closing days Of some humble and militant fell
low creatures who have never once known
what plenty or even suficiency Of the worlds
goods meant, and who, were 1t not for the UNI
| ostontatious generosity Of pure benevoleuce,
would end tho dreary and unlovely hours Of
their old age In solitude and want.
The close OF tho season scatters the denizens
Of London far over the land. and In their wan
three hes
gaii,etie i9 their quiet. siloht s!npicity Of
Greneiie psnr Paris, consisting Of a series Of
large buildings Of recent construction. sur
sed Win aoses sa
q snd bs + ths
post house OF st. German les Pres. and carried
ss Fl ss snsas 81
sha sqG
House Of Parisl where It flourlshes. ~
Inside the precincts mono but aged. totter-
ing, feeble figures meet the eye. ali the heads
are white. all the faces lined and iurrowel. no
WdoWers aud widows must have lived ii Ia we'd We'd.
lock at least ten years and the married couples
| who Geek admittance must number between
| ty years; nevertheless the pensioners OF Les
petlts Manages do not change frequently. va
renewed. and H. as elsewhere. centen en- runs
are tho exception. there are q goodly number
eshy ts drns a Rs ytsu inmates
the gardens watching. with their placid. ex-
the Gardeners hose on their iavotite plants, or
II 70 inclined they lazily. periunctoriiy. without
mont Of The bowling alley, standing az near The
throwing the ball with the tremuious uncer-
cult satisfaction from til cir display OF mus
cllar energy.
are cheerful with light and cleanliness, and
serurulonsly we'll kept, The dormitores are
o er Soss
yidnal sttempts At decoration; Many Of the old
eiaboratcly smbroiierins their coanterpsnos
and blankets. and the withered cheeks flush
With PRIZE hs 1t any compliment t. their hahi
and dream their lives away. They cling to an
ttuuated fashions, dress their hair, in the long
bandeaux Of half = century ago. and. curiously
enough; not one IS bald, Whom The, white hair
ns % fh9S io4,e sEe 81 o6seD
leaning their elbows over the foot Of their beds.
Of .hs @
asses-.patiently and vaguely assimiating the
lucpbratons OF the mora list and the politician.
Ss. o. tRs ope psfSs
aristocracy enioying the superior Importance
OF the private rooms above: both sets are
the former with envy the second with pride.
Two, conditions, an, required to insure tho
rns FSes see OF
are comfortable: sufficiently furnished, and
VEL y ,,rt those oeennisd by couple
decorations reveal tho tastes and inclinations
Of the diherent tenants; here couple of grow
or co!ored prints: sometimes China ornaments
bought at fair for a sou or two. but the gon-
Sn are Sbars Each IN
done-stoyes are nrohioited as a precautl n
nsalnst fra small dark closet for hanging
| out OF sight the scanty wardrobe. the frayed
and worn change Of dress. and ut euch door
stands large wooden box. shut with u pad
tration ior heating nurposes.-two loads Of wood
and four hectoiitres of coal for the winter.
me inmnios WEAR no special costume or dis.
the premises or meet ut meals in every variety
Of garb. jacket. wprkInnns coarse vest, or even
| some dreary run Of Iii luck and deeadence-not
crime ne tHr the antecedsnts Ct al postuants
Lss ps The
are the aunt OF a distinguished member Of the
last Cabinet. an OK Professor ot the University;
Honor and many more who, vanUui5hed In
tho great, battle Of liz, have laid down their
man who has blarked their boots or opened
their carriage dosr The food is good tasty
| meat vegetables or macaroni. cheese, and
stantinl soup and meat again. All the yiands
snpns The kte s Is as
Fling as white tables sapded floors, shining
Tho ao o Whtss San
the laundry belonging to the establi shmont.
not sHfs Rsrs tfsa
they have tho liberty OF leaving the buildings
eeS out th day
being we'll fed, admirably tended in sickness,
and OF getting the best medicines free OF
tho dram, Of the aged, which they, consume
too lI6eraly,; thsy can look forward to enter,
under the chestnut trees. and on what eondI-
do they snoy these multiple 6oGns'
| be paid for. But what Is the price A sum OF
S!2 paid down. once and for oil. by the inmate
OF a private room; Of E4S by those who rest
satisfied with occupying the d9rmitories. and
| Q capital, they arc allowed to pay an annual
sum OF f13. and to provide the modest furni-
ip the second Moreover. every ten days they
spend on themselves as they choose In point
OF fact; the hospitality tendered to the pNtri-
archs IL, after all only a yelled gift. This is
why only those are received whose whole
| than the sum required In total or In part, and
| the greatest care Is taken by the administra
| ton to ward or impostors and make believe
paunsrs; :, Once an old man OF the most de-
mltted somewhat ,carefessly. Re used to leave
the home every day. never returning till the
last moment. He was accidentally seen to
meet an s,lS,sant carriage drawn BY ELEGANT
to drive off in It. 1t was then ascortained that
| he was a sort OF half crazy MANIAC. who, by
| saving board and lodging at Les Petits Me-
pHsgss could afford the luxury Of an eauipase.
| l.. Having nothing to regret and little to want,
| II would seem that the aged inmates had
| reached n haysn q mace md Ouiet hut thara